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Oxygène

Jean-Michel Jarre

1976

Oxygène

Album Summary

Oxygène (French pronunciation: ​[ɔksiˈʒɛn], English: Oxygen) is the third studio album by French electronic musician and composer Jean-Michel Jarre and his first album not intended for use as a soundtrack. Oxygène consists of six tracks, numbered simply "Oxygène (Part I)" to "(Part VI)". It was first released in France in December 1976, on the Disques Dreyfus record label licensed to Polydor, with an international release following in the middle of 1977. The album reached number one on the French charts, number two on the UK charts and number 78 in the US charts. Jarre recorded the album in a makeshift home recording studio using a variety of analogue synthesizers and one digital synthesizer, as well as other electronic instruments and effects. It became a bestseller and was Jarre's first album to achieve mainstream success. It was highly influential in the development of electronic music from that point onward and has been described as the album that "led the synthesizer revolution of the Seventies" and "an infectious combination of bouncy, bubbling analog sequences and memorable hook lines".

Wikipedia

Rating

3.08

Votes

14909

Genres

  • Electronica

Reviews

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Jul 30 2022
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5

In The Meaning of Liff, a book by Douglas Adams and John Lloyd, the authors take placenames from around the world and redefine them as words for things and events that don't have a word, but should. For instance, Shoeburyness, formerly an English village, gained the meaning "the vague uncomfortable feeling you get when sitting on a seat that is still warm from somebody else's bottom." Chicago now also refers to "the foul-smelling wind which precedes an underground railway train." The relevant one for today is Zeerust, a South African town and "the particular kind of datedness which afflicts things that were originally designed to look futuristic." Take the original Star Trek, where communicators only performed one task (unlike your phone), and a female uniform ended an inch below the knicker. Jean -Michel Jarre's Oxygène embodies the zeerust of 70s synth pioneer records, but this is not to its detriment. The public perception of Jean-Michel Jarre has always struck me as dissonant, but that could be the Anglo-American perception. Everyone aged 35 or over knows exactly who he is, but they would only be able to name one song (Oxygène Part 4, obviously). Owning this album would make you seem buffy, and any other album smacks of obsession. Yet he holds the world record for the most attended concert, a 1997 Moscow concert celebrating the 350th anniversary of the city, where over 3,500,000 attended: that's more than the populations of Estonia and Latvia combined. Three other concerts of his have previously held that record. So does Europe adore Jean-Michel Jarre? Dunno: I asked a Francophone friend, and he told me that whilst he has some kudos in France as a trailblazer, nobody would be able to tell you a track of his from the 80s or 90s. Anyway, back to the zeerust of Oxygène. The European synth pioneers who have attracted by far the most acclaim are the Germans: Kraftwerk, Neu!, Tangerine Dream, those chaps. The French, whilst not seen as inadequate in the field, have never attained anything like the veneration their synthy krautrock rivals command. But these synth pioneers, regardless of origin, all now sound affectionately quaint. By pursuing the future in their present, they would become anchored to their present, our past. Partly this is just the gamble you take on when you prognosticate so; much of New Romanticism's futurism hasn't bourne out in its favour. Partly this is a side-effect of influence: when others build on your innovations, they will inevitably progress beyond you. But whereas one might presume Oxygène has dated, I don't find that the case. Yes, it's evocative of a specific 70s era I never experienced, but that just adds to the charm. A 6-track, wholly electronic instrumental album by a French avant-garde composer becoming a worldwide smash? That sadly just doesn't happen anymore. Thanks, Adele! But is Oxygène actually good stripped of context? It wholly depends on how beautiful you find it. Eventually, I found it very beautiful indeed. Yes, it may take some time to appreciate this album fully, but by my third listen it had become a treat. I'm happy giving it 5 stars, but that just reflects my impression. If you consider it a bore and a chore, I won't argue to the contrary. See, we can all just get along!

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Oct 16 2020
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5

Can go toe to toe with anything Ambient that Brian Eno ever did. incredibly powerful mood.

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Dec 15 2021
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4

Let's all put on clothing made of foil and zoom around on our hoverboards

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May 10 2021
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1

When I saw that all songs were called Oxygène, I knew it would be shit...

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Jan 27 2022
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1

Doctor Who backing music made by some dude in his kitchen. No thanks.

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Nov 24 2021
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2

I kept waiting for this album to begin and then it was over. C

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Jun 02 2023
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5

1. Don’t be a dummy like me, listen to this record at night. This is night music. 2. The French are better at electronic music than just about anyone else on the planet (with the possible exception of the Germans in the 1970’s). 3. Why the fuck don’t I own this on vinyl? Discogs, here i come.

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Jan 06 2022
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5

Jarre is one of the godfathers of electronic music, and this early album is one of his best. Its best known part is certainly Oxygène 4, but one really should listen to this album as a whole, not for individual tracks. Jarre is weaving a tapestry of ever-repeating patterns and introduces gradual over time, so it never gets boring. A classic masterpiece of electronic music. 5/5

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Apr 21 2021
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2

Definately like if i was being abducted by an alien play this please

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Aug 19 2021
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5

Inject this shit directly into my veins

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Jun 05 2021
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5

One of the OGs of the style. Still incredible even all these years later.

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Feb 19 2021
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4

This was a real gem, never heard of this cat before and had no idea how big he was. Some really interesting beats and sounds.

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Sep 30 2020
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4

Yet another seminal electronic album, this time from the 70s. Six parts, all sublime. Utterly good stuff. Favorite is Oxygene, Pt. 5.

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Aug 19 2021
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5

New space music for coding, blessed

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Jun 20 2021
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5

Absolutely wonderful, a rich futuristic cityscape of an album. Definitely going to revisit.

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May 27 2024
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3

Far out!! Would enjoy on shrooms!!! 🍄🍄‍🟫

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Apr 06 2022
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5

I got Gary Numan through this project recently, and was bemoaning the lack of Vangelis on the list, so awarded him the title of "main source of synthesizer soundtracks of the future, from the past". That was shameful Jean-Michel Jarre erasure, and for that, I apologize. Oxygene is great! Exactly my jam. On the one hand, it's the scifi soundtrack to the future TV and movies have been promising me my whole life. On the other hand, it's a nostalgia machine that whisks me back to my childhood. Fave track - well, "Part IV" is the famous, nay, iconic section, but I really enjoyed the frenetic mania of "Part II" this time around. The second half of "Part V" is pretty badass, too....

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Feb 18 2022
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5

Superb. The most beatiful electronica soundscapes put together as a classic symphony, with its different themes being repeated in variations and mixed up maintaing an exciting atmosphere throughout the whole album

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Feb 07 2021
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4

Really liked this surprisingly. I'm guessing pretty revolutionary for its' time? Listened with headphones so that made it a beautiful sci-fi soundscape journey.

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Mar 17 2022
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1

I can respect the inspiration this album had and how groundbreaking this album may have been for its time, but definitely not for me. Sounds like a killer video game soundtrack maybe? I LOVE the album art though, would make a cool tattoo.

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Feb 25 2025
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5

Incredible work. Atmospheric, cinematic. Very unique ethnic sound blended with very eclectic synth melodies

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Feb 15 2025
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5

It's impressive how little it takes sometimes for music to be fantastic. Just some looping synths and drum beats manages to make this a fun album to listen to. Great atmosphere.

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Feb 13 2025
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5

Interesting and unique! I enjoyed the psychedelic, floaty nature of it. Fun instrumentals overall. It did hang out in each section a bit too long at times, but it didn't annoy me too much. 'Oxygéne, Pt. 5' was my favorite, it got kinda funky.

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Jan 17 2025
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5

This is an album I've meant to listen to for literally 5 years, when it was first recommended to me. Once I saw it was on the list, I decided to wait. I would say it was worth the wait. I didn't really care for Pt. 1 but it picked up for me with Pt 2 and stayed great through to the end. Pt 4 was the highlight for me, which I understand led to Jean-Michel Jarre's breakthrough. Would rate 4.5 but going to round up because I think it deserves it.

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Feb 02 2022
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5

Dramatic, cinematic.I remember watching his outdoor light spectacles on TV as a kid - Oxygene Part 4 brings back those memories. Rich textures, Spacemen 3 learnt from this. It’s very different to Kraftwerk, this is more like waves, more atmospheric. No words, this is music to make you wonder. Dreamy. I love it. Nice to hear an album without lyrics that still very much holds the attention.

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Jan 28 2022
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5

I think this album might be directly responsible for the entire sound of 80s sci-fi and some mainstream sound that's seen even today. For 1976, this shit feels way ahead of its time and it's also super enjoyable to listen to. Parts 3 and 6 are the best ones

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Jan 20 2022
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5

Incredibly cool, it felt like I was on a musical journey. Particularly loved parts 2, 3 and 4. The section of 5 where you could hear the music going back and forth from ear to ear was rather fun as well

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Dec 22 2021
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5

I liked this album. Listened to some of his work for the rest of the day, and this was probably the best.

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Dec 06 2021
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5

awesome album, beginning to end 10/10 based af honestly can’t decide what my favorite song is

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Feb 16 2025
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4

The top review says more or less everything I would say. Everyone my age knows his name and this record, to a greater or lesser degree. A synth and electronic pioneer, and something I wouldn't think of listening to nowadays, I think of it in similar terms as Tubular Bells, except this is better as a whole piece. Some of it brings to mind Vangelis also, and could complement the Blade Runner soundtrack. Definitely feel like it holds up. And should be listened to as a whole.

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Nov 14 2024
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4

In middle school I watched a lot of British stand up comedy DVDs. One of them was a Bill Bailey special with a lot of musical bits. In one of them he sampled himself saying "Jean Michelle Jare is a fraud. I never knew who that was until this album came up. So thank you 1001 Album Club, for answering a question I've had for many years. I listened to this in the shower, and it was excellent shower music. I'm giving it 4 stars for shower excellence. In most other contexts it would probably be a 3, but that was a really peaceful and bubbly sounding shower. I still don't know why he's a fraud though. Album cover: (A-) Cheesy but very rad.

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Jul 15 2022
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4

Ayo this is pretty fucking neat. Early electronic that feels like floating through space? yes please, it's solid as fuck.

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Jul 05 2021
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4

The inspiration for countless infomercial and documentary soundtracks. Despite a bit too much theremin vibrato and vaguely muddy mixing, this album is simultaneously the sound of the past and the sound of the future.

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May 21 2025
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3

Like listening to a lukewarm glass of water, but sure, it passes.

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Jun 06 2024
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3

Yeah this was cool from a sort of historical perspective. Clearly impactful, and yet I wouldn’t say this is something I’ll be eager to throw on in the future.

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May 15 2024
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3

A different listen for me. This album used a lot of the ethereal sounds I associate with sci fi and space-themed movies. It was fun to have on in the background as I drove around on a rainy day but it's not my favorite type of music.

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Dec 01 2023
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1

This is the day that Shane MacGowan died, so i have to admit i only made it through 3 of these Oxygene tracks before needing to bail out and listen to the Pogues for the rest of the day at full volume.

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Sep 19 2023
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1

This almost put me to sleep like 8 times - and I was driving while I was listening to it. Maybe that's on me, but this album could have gotten me killed.

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Jun 09 2025
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5

WOW. I had never heard this, but I am so very pleasantly surprised by it. Would love to add this album to the collection.

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Jun 06 2025
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5

Um capolavoro do mais alto escalão. Obra extraordinária. O tipo de disco que você ouve de olhos fechados, pra nada entrar no caminho entre você e a absoluta ternura que emana dessas notas sintetizadas. A primeira vez que ouvi esse LP inteiramente, eu te garanto, mudou a trajetória da minha vida no âmbito criativo. Os sintetizadores parecem criar vida nessa produção. Eles remetem às ondas do mar. Ao cantalorar de pássaros. É de tirar o fôlego. O lado 2 do disco abre como um prédio sendo implodido. Demolição controlada. Não há violência aqui, mas sim uma minuciosa e cuidadosa dissecação. Assim vem aos meus ouvidos. A forma com que Jarre explora o espaço no âmbito estéreo é surreal. Esse disco precisa estar na coleção de todo audiófilo do mundo. Coloca ele pra tocar e se sente no epicentro dos seus speakers. Fecha o olho e só vai. Não precisa de droga nenhuma, o som aqui é a substância mais poderosa imaginável. Vai massagear teu cérebro. A definição de um disco eletrônico 5 estrelas. Capolavoro, perfeito, do início ao fim.

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Jun 03 2025
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5

So I guess I'm "lucky" to have the time each day to devote to listening to music. I'm driving around all day and already enjoy ambient and other background music. Also a fan, of course of theme park BGM especially like Epcot and tommorowland. So this is the kind of thing I'm all about. I'll have to now go see if this guy did any of the music for Epcot. Also has a cinematic score vibe too, some sounded very familiar in parts. Anyway I'm glad to have heard this as its the kind of find the list should provide. I listened to it twice back to back while driving the hour and 20 minutes from Joliet back up to Gurnee. Will have to listen to It at night

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May 21 2025
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5

pretty cool, especially for the time

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May 21 2025
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5

Als we ooit contact zoeken met aliëns, dan komen we er waarschijnlijk achter dat Jean Michel Jarre dat in 1976 al had gedaan en er een album van heeft gemaakt. Wát een bizarre reis door geluid is dit zeg! Ook weer zo ontzettend bijzonder dat dit in 1976 is gemaakt. HEt gaat alle kanten op, met meer trancey plaatjes zoals Pt2, dan weer een buitenaards, duister nummer zoals Pt3... Echt zo bijzonder dat zulke muziek al in 1976 werd gemaakt, en het eigenlijk nog steeds vernieuwend klinkt! Ja, dit is een heerlijk Ambient album, van een van de grootvaders van de elektronische muziek. God, wat is het toch vet om zulke muziek te (her)ontdekken, in plaats van het 1001ste indierockpostpunk bandje. Dit is zoveel vernieuwender, maar ik snap het wel als mensen dit saai vinden. Ik ben er groot fan van, maar het vereist wel een bepaald enthousiasme voor elektronische muziek, vergelijkbaar met Kraftwerk. Dit album voelde als een trip in de ruimte en eindige op het strand, wát een reis en wat een album. FAVO: Oxygene pt2, Oxygene pt4, Oxygene pt5,

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May 10 2025
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5

I don't know what else there is to be said about this album, but it is fully deserving of its reputation. I've been listening to it since the 1980s when the cover artwork used to scare me as a child, and it's lost nothing of its enjoyment. Melodic and dense and yet accessible and in some ways simplistic, it defies easy definition in some ways. At times mellow and soothing, at other times eery and haunting. Part 2 is the standout track for me but it works as a cohesive whole. A quibble-free 5/5

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May 08 2025
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5

One of the albums in my Electronic Hall of Fame, along with "Geogaddi" and "Autobahn". I wonder what it must have been like to be around when the album was released. The whole is one epic song split into 6 parts. Part 1 is my favourite, with Part 4 being 2nd. 2 fantastic albums in a row. 5 stars for "Oxygène".

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Apr 28 2025
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5

Electronica has been one of my lowest rated genres in this project so far, largely because it has been dance/clubbing rubbish rather than the real thing. This is the real thing.

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Apr 15 2025
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5

Incredible in it's genre. It's ambient and atmosperic. I saw another review describing it as futuristic and I think it describes it well. It's a very retro futuristic sound and it could easily be used for a soundtrack for a sci-fi film from the 70s or 80s.

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Apr 11 2025
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5

I am sure this is not for everyone but it's certainly for me. I've never really dug too far deep into earlier electronica and ambient but I've been enjoying anything I've been hitting on this list. This somehow feels both very alien and terrestrial at the same time.

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Apr 09 2025
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5

Давний фаворит. Доступный, но интересный и приятный.

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Apr 09 2025
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5

EXCELLENT ambience. Love the futuristic sound, different tones, and the use of panning in Part 5.

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Mar 16 2025
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5

amazing synth record in 1977, still sounds great today "di-di-di-dee-dee"

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Mar 03 2025
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5

Heard this as a kid and I'm sure I changed my life even then. If not the father of electronic music, then at least an uncle once removed. Superb stuff!

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Mar 03 2025
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5

A true masterpiece. More of a progressive project really, which is why it works so well. Electronic music that never gets bland and repetitive. Great album art as well

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Feb 20 2025
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5

Heck yeah this rips. Really cool experience to listen to. Awesome find.

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Feb 19 2025
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5

Klassiker! Vad vore Barnens ö utan Jean-Michel Jarre?

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Jan 22 2025
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5

I've been looking forward to this since I saw it was on the list, getting a well-deserved 5, love it

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Feb 13 2025
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5

This is a really cool early electronic album. Unless I am mistaken, JMJ is the performer of the largest concert in human history. Pretty cool album.

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Jan 29 2025
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5

YAY WELCOME TO MY BEAUTIFUL PLANÈTE

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Jan 29 2025
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5

4 is just superb. The rest are a beautiful accompaniment to the arrival of, and departure of, 4. It gave me goosebumps rediscovering it. I used to have this album. It was a delight, I saw and felt so many things on playing this music, the analogies the digital, the wind, the clicks and the layering. It has aged but not lost its significance to me of loving and delighting in good electronic music. 5 stars.

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Jan 12 2025
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5

I didn't think I was in the mood and then wouldn't you know it, it created the mood.

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Jan 10 2025
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5

It's giving "80s fantasy film with a demented good synth soundtrack that doesn't fit at all", and if you know me you know what a compliment that is. Might make a Jarre playlist for the next time I run a fantasy RPG, for the full Ladyhawke effect.

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Jan 09 2025
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5

The Minecraft soundtrack if it were made in the 80s. Amazing.

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Jan 09 2025
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5

Already one of my absolute faves.

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Jan 07 2025
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5

Spacy and way out there in 1976. What an open and ethereal album! I love it!

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Dec 29 2024
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5

One of the true pioneers of the electronic genre.

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Dec 25 2024
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5

haunting and enchanting all at the same time, it's impressive how natural this album all sounded considering it's all synth based, this is a real treat to the ears.

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Nov 21 2024
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5

WOW. J'avais jamais entendu parler de cet album-là auparavant, malgré la qualité qui se trouve sous le capot. Une sorte de musique électro à la Kraftwerk, couplé d'une prestance symphonique qui varie de la lourdeur dramatique d'un grand orchestre à la légèreté planante d'un smooth solo jazz au piano. Magnifico, si je puis me permettre.

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Nov 20 2024
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5

This is so much my jam I feel like it was pulled straight out of my head. My standouts: Part 2, Part 3, Part 5

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Nov 13 2024
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5

I absolutely loved this and I had never heard of this guy before. It’s pure synth fantasia, evolving from soundscapes to recognizable popular song structure then devolving back again in to a soundscape and experimental manipulation for the ending. I didn’t want it to end. Some of the “high level” solo tracking sounds the tiniest bit dated, I can’t figure out why but it does, but that doesn’t take away from it. To think this was made in 1976, it’s incredible. This could come out today on a niche label and you wouldn’t even have to label it “retro”. I need the vinyl for this yesterday.

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Nov 01 2024
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5

What a treat. It still sounds good today; albeit dated, but in a good way. You really can see how this album influenced much of the electronic music in the 80s and possibly into the 90s.

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Oct 20 2024
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5

This was unexpectedly awesome. I feel like I've listened to this before. I listen to a lot of ambient/frequency type music and I'm sure Spotify would've recommended this to me. But this is really perfect for walking the dog around the block, before the sun's up and having coffee.

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Oct 10 2024
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5

Love this album, like Scott says it needs a sound system to do it justice. Killer album and remember watching the live show years ago on council telly :)

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Sep 25 2024
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5

Love that ‘70’s synth!! Fantastic display of ‘70’s analogue synth. Perhaps a little ahead of its time and clearly and influence on LCD Sound System

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Sep 18 2024
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5

i love this, what a weird and wonderful collection of synths

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Sep 13 2024
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5

Ethereal, mind bending, and innovative. Oxygene (along with Equinox) is Jean-Michel Jarre's most famous work and most enduring. It is a swirling mass of tones, melodies, and beats and represents one of the critical peices of 70s electronica. It's effect on later techno, electronica, new age, and, especially, stoned college students is vast. Oxygene is an amazing work when you want to expand your mind and chill your soul.

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Sep 06 2024
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5

Amazing! This is one of the albums that has made slogging through all the crap on this list worth it.

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Sep 05 2024
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5

Absolutely love this synth stuff, great music and sounds a bit like Mamman Sani my love

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